Council agrees plan to turn offices into flats

Planners initially refused the application due to noise concerns

A London-based charity's bid to turn an office block in Swindon into flats has been given the green light.

The Foundation for Liver Research will turn the office block in the town's South Marston industrial estate into 26 flats.

Swindon Borough Council refused its initial bid in September because of noise concerns from nearby industrial units.

According to the charity's new application, the flats would be designed to keep noise from the outside to the required British standards.

Noise survey due

The two-storey building will be converted into 20 one-bed flats and six studios, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Swindon Borough Council approved the second application earlier this month.

There will be 48 car parking spaces and the exterior of the building would not be changed, according to the application.

It said: "Where the specified internal noise levels in bedrooms and living rooms can only be achieved by closing windows, alternative ventilation shall be provided to the room to a standard of ventilation.

"Prior to occupation of the residential units, a noise survey shall be conducted in order to demonstrate that the noise mitigation measures detailed are effectual in reducing external noise to an acceptable level."